The Bends : Chapter Four

Aden stayed by the cafe for quite sometimes as he begins to look around his living area. Just two more years and soon once the cert is in his hands, part of his dream has been fulfil. He decides to get a part time job for his daily expenses as he does not want to impose on his mum and dad too much. Aden stood up from his seat and gather his courage as he walks towards the cashier who was busy counting their collection of the day.

"Good evening madam, do you have any job vancancy at this cafe?" asked Aden ethusiatically.

The cashier looks at Aden in between her thick glasses for a while. "Are you a student?" she asked as she place back the money into the cash box register. Aden nodded with a smile. The lady scribble a contact number on a piece of paper and handed it to Aden.

"Call this number. And good luck." said the lady with a smile.

"Thanks madam. I really appreciate this." replied Aden politely as he walk out from the cafe.

Ilhan was so high with his drugs and liquor that he had fallen asleep on the floor...like a dead carcas. Maya stayed in her room and not moving an inch as she was afraid of him and his rough friends. She prayed hard that they will just leave cause it was already almost quater to twelve. She sat hiding between the bed and the wooden closet with tears in her eyes. Suddenly someone had eventually slammed open the door, and to her horror it was Ilhan's sickening friends. One of them grab her and told her not to scream. Maya shouted for Ilhan but he remains motionless due to the high dose of drugs which his friends had actually drop it in his bottle of liquor as they have other plans in their sick mind. Maya struggle with all her might to get herself free from those thugs grip. Eventually, Maya managed to kick one of them in between their groin and ran out from the house. She knew the elevator is too slow therefore she rushed towards the stairways instead ...crying tearfully. The thugs however could not believe that she had ran off...and soon they follow suit but they loiter around the elevator instead and Maya could heard they were cursing and swearing. Maya was halfway down the stair ways and she remain still, hoping that they will not realised that she was hiding there. She sob in silent and walk few step backwards when she heard their voices seems to be coming closer towards the door. Suddenly she felt someone had put his hand across her mouth and pull her close towards him.

"Be still." whispered Aden and he brings Maya along towards the stairways which lead them to the roof top. "You go and hide..I shall think of a way to lured them away." cried Aden as he usher Maya to go.

"How about you?" asked Maya worriedly.

"Just go." utter Aden again. Maya was just in time as she rushed up heading towards the roof top when those ruffians open the door which was located by the stairways. Aden pretends as though nothing was happening and pretends to tie his shoe lace.

"Don't waste our time with this fool. Come on maybe she's headed down the stairs." cried one of the thugs and left much to Aden's relieve. "Who's the fool now?" thought Aden to himself as he rushed towards the stairs and headed towards the roof top. Aden searched for Maya and then there he saw her sitting against the three feet concrete wall. Aden slowly walks towards her and sat by her side. As she looked at him, he saw some bruised mark on her face and body and he knew Maya was suffering in silence. Aden was speechless after seeing this and with sadness in his hazel brown eyes.

"How could you let him do this to you?" asked Aden. Maya looks away from Aden's eye. Aden clasped his hands on his face in disbelieved and they both remain in silence. Maya woke up and find herself sleeping by Aden's side. She stood up and was about to leave when she heard her name was called by Aden. "Maya, are you going back to him? Come, let me bring you to the cop so that we could file a report against him." persuaded Aden as he came closer towards her.

"No! Not the cops..and please stay away from my affair from now on." pleads Maya as she left him all by himself at the rooftop..feeling numb and confused. Maya knew all Ilhan's friends might not be around anymore as the sun had risen in the sky but she knew Ilhan would'nt be pleased about her being missing from their home...but she was prepared to face his brutality.

Aleeya took the pamplets in her hands as she dashed towards her daddy's office even without knocking on the door first as she was too excited to show him that piece of paper.

"Daddy look..another grand race..and this time I'm on." cried Aleeya as she shoved the paper right in front of Adam's eye who was still on the line talking to his client.

"Aleeya..I'm talking to someone." cried Adam shaking his head. Adam took the pamplet and begin reading it's content.

"Aleeya, I'm so sorry baby..but I afraid I won't be around on that date cause I need to see through so many things and I might need to be outstation again." said Adam looking sadly towards Aleeya. And he knew she was upset as she begins to sulk.

"It's the same story...you always makes promises and then you are so fond of breaking them." yelled Aleeya.

"Oh Aleeya..please understand my situation right now." cried Adam.

"Why it is always me who had to understand your every situation? But how about you? Have you ever thought and tries to understand about my feelings?" asked Aleeya looking displeased with her father. "It is always about Aden...but nothing about me." cried Aleeya with tears in her eyes.

"Aleeya..please forgive me ...if I ever make you feel that way about Aden. But you know how much you meant to me?" said Adam as he stood closer towards his daughter. "Alright next race..I will be there..I promised you." cried Adam again as he caress his daughter's hair lovingly.

"Stop it daddy..just stop making all those empty promises. I kind of sick hearing them." yelled Aleeya as she took her helmet and walks out from his office. Adam stood fooze by his desk as he begins to feel hurt and guilty by his daughter's remarks. Just as he was about to leave his office suddenly the phone rang.

"Hello." answered Adam as he sit back on his chair and begins massaging his head with his fingers.

"Hello bro?" it was Zaki much to Adam's surprised and his spirit begins to lift him up again. "How are you?" asked Adam.

"I'm doing fine..how's everything at home? It has been almost two months we have not visited each other now." said Zaki.

"Well everything seems okay..just some hiccups with my kids that's all..especially with Aleeya." cried Adam. "How about you? How's your kids ?" asked Adam.

"Well you know high school kids nowadays..they only listen to their close buddies instead of us" replied Zaki. "Propably we might came over by end of this month..so be prepare for us." said Zaki.

"Alright that's great..kind of miss you bro." utter Adam solemnly.

"Hey! Don't get mushy with me." giggles Zaki. "Send my regards to Zaharah and your children."

"Sure..you too..send my regards to Nadia and your kids." replied Adam as he put down the receiver with a smile.

It was the night where the big race begins. She knew her father and mother had left town much to her dispare. But Aleeya was determined to go ahead with this race despite being sternly warn by her mother. She took her helmet and motorbike keys and headed towards her bike.....

speeding off towards the location of the race. This time she was not afraid to hide behind her helmet. She took it off and walk passed Thaqif and his friends as she binds her hand with the hand band on her right arm cause that was part of the rule.

"Thaqif...it's that chick again." said one of his mate. Thaqif looks intensely at her and Aleeya knew he was staring at her. She turns to look at him with a smile of pride and confident. Soon everyone was on their bikes and waited for the pop gun to goes off again. "Bang".

Just like before Aleeya being a girl and light weight...she speed off ahead from the others..and soon enough her bike was side by side with Thaqif. Thaqif press on his accelarator harder and speed off ahead off her. Aleeya let him ahead off her at first..but as swift as the lighting she hit on her engine hard and cut through Thaqif again and pass through the finishing line..Aleeya did it again. She stop her bike and turn towards Thaqif with a smirk on her face. After she took her prize cheque, she went back towards her bike and speed off home. It was the same deserted lane which she still needs to pass by. As she was riding smoothly along the lane, suddenly a van drove close enough by her side and stop abruptly infront of her. Aleeya had to halt her bike or else.. she will crash into the van.

"Oh! Not again. What's wrong with you people?" yelled Zaharah as she thought it was the same bunch of Thaqif's men. But she was mistaken, cause it wasn't them at all. And they don't look like some kind of biker's but more like a ruffian..strongly smell of liquor. Aleeya begins to panic but she stand on her guide. Three of the burly men came forward towards her and wanted to grab her arms. But Aleeya was swift enough to get his hands off her....however one of the men splashed some liquor onto Aleeya's face and the liquid begins to stinge her eyes. The other guys took this chance..and grab her bringging her towards their van. Aleeya kick and struggle with all her might however she was not strong enough to fight them off. Suddenly, they heard the thundering roar of motorbikes. Aleeya look at the incoming bikers and she knew it was Thaqif and his friends. They stop their bikes and begins removing their helmets off their heads.

"May be you should leave my friend alone." cried Thaqif as he walk closer towards the hooligans.

"Hey! Kiddo..get back to your bikes...and mind your own businese." replied one of the thugs as he still grips on Aleeya tightly close to him. Thaqif looks at Aleeya's panicking face intensely.

"She's my friend..so she's my businese. Old man." replied Thaqif sarcastically. The ruffian was angry by Thaqif's remarks. He pushed Aleeya towards the ground and crash his beer bottle onto his van and show it to Thaqif's face.

"You are calling your death...baby." yelled the men. Soon he and the rest of his gang begins crashing their beer bottle and held them in their hands. Thaqif brings his hand behind his bag pack and took out a long iron rod followed by the rest of his friends.

"No..I'm digging that grave for you." cried Thaqif and soon enough fought begins to break out between the two groups. Fears sets in Aleeya's mind..."This is all my fault." thought Aleeya helplessly as she watch the violent fight that occurs right infront of her eyes. Thaqif was quick enough to avoid few blows from those beer- bottle thugs and then his eyes caught Aleeya who was looking worriedly at him.

"Run Aleeya..go!" yelled Thaqif.

"I can't leave you like this." cried Aleeya as she wanted to join in the fight.

"I said go..get out of here." warned Thaqif much to Aleeya's dismay. Aleeya saw blood splurted all over the ground due to the injuries which had happen between the two gangs. Aleeya had no choice but to leave. She ran back to her bike..put on her helmet and rode back home with tears in her eyes.

"Why does he cares?" thought Aleeya to herself....her heart felt heavy and the money which she had won suddenly meants nothing to her anymore.